Te reo.

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We'll add some of the maori language here, it may be one word at a time, well give the word, how it's pronounced, and what it means in english.. There's no letter "F"in the Maori alphabet. if you see a word that starts with "WH" then that is pronounced as an "F" in maori..

If there's an "R" in a word, it's always rolled, just like the Scottish roll their R in a good Scottish accent..

The other surprising thing is that Rarotongan and the Maori languages are very similar, one difference is the Rarotongan's speak a lot faster, so people like myself who aren't 100% fluent have a lot of trouble keeping up, some fluent Maori have been known to have a little trouble keeping up especially given the Rarotongan's have a slightly different way of pronouncing some words..

At some stage we'll start a different thread and ask you to see if you can translate a few words in to english, it may be one word, it may be a sentence.. Don't worry though, we'll make sure it's only words that have already been added here..

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Whare.. Pronounced as.. fo ree..



Translates to.. House..

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Kai.. Prononounced as ki..



Translation.. food..

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Whenua.. Pronounced as.. fe nu ah..



Translation.. Land..

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Tapu.. Pronounced as.. tah poo..



Translates to.. Sacred..

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Hoha.. Pronounced as.. hoe hah..


Translates to.. be boring, tiresome, bored, wearisome, fed up with, tedious, exasperating, irksome, annoying, vexatious.

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Morena.. Pronounced as.. more eh na..



Translates to.. morning.. good morning..

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Ahiahi.. Pronounced as.. ah he ah he..



Translates to.. Afternoon.. good afternoon.. evening..

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Pomarie.. Pronounced as.. po mah re eh.



Translates to.. good night..

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Wahine.. Pronounced as.. wah he neigh..



Translates to.. Female or woman..

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Tamariki .. Pronounced as.. tam ah re key..



Translates to.. children..

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Mokopuna.. Pronounced as.. Moh ko poo nah..



Translates to.. grandchildren..

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Awhi.. Promounced as.. ah fee..



Translates to.. Help..

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Kia ora.. Pronounced as.. key oar ra..




Translates to.. hello and thank you..

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Kia kaha.. Pronounced as.. key ah kah ha..



Translates to.. stay strong..

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Ehoa.. Pronounced as.. eh how ah..



Translates to.. Friend..

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Ka kite ano.. Pronounced as.. cah key tay ah no..



Translates to.. See you later..

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Whare.. Pronounced as foh ree



Translates to.. House..

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Puoro.. Pronounced as.. Poo or oh..



Translates to.. Music..

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Waiata.. Pronounced as.. Why ah ta..




Translates to.. Song..

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Kaitiaki.. Pronounced as.. ki yea ah key..



Translates to.. Caretaker or manager..

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Kaumatua.. Pronounced as.. co ma to ah..



Translates to elderly male..

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Kuia.. Pronounced as.. coo ee ah..



Translates to elderly lady..

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Tuatahi.. Pronounced as.. to ah ta he..



Translates to.. First..

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Tikanga.. Pronounced as.. tea kung ah..



Translates to.. Correct procedure, custom, habit, lore, method, manner, rule, way, code, meaning, plan, practice, convention, protocol - the customary system of values and practices that have developed over time and are deeply embedded in the social context..